Outing Lucy: When HUAC Cancelled Culture
Facilitated by Riva Gambert
This event already happened:
Thursday, February 17, 2022
7:00PM - 8:00PM
Location: Online via Zoom
The phenomenon of “cancel culture” existed long before the 21st century when House Unamerican Affair Committee, a Congressional committee, searched for members of and potential sympathizers with the Communist Party. One focus of Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos (starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem) is on Lucille Ball’s being labeled a “Red” (and not for her hair color) by journalist Walter Winchell. Ball was not the only celebrity whose career was almost destroyed by such insinuations. Another was actor Edward G. Robinson, who spent a small fortune to clear his name. EBIJFF Director Riva Gambert will explore how HUAC got started and the repercussions the film and TV industries experienced due to this earlier cancel culture onslaught.
Sponsored by the Independent Jewish World Cinema (the parent non-profit of the EBIJFF) in partnership with the CCJCC and Congregation B’nai Shalom. Admission is free.